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ternational Copyrighted (in T0ng:lan(i* her Colonies, and 
id States) Edition of the Works, of the Best Authors 




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No. 333 


• AT THE MILLINER’S \ 


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A Comedy in One Act 


HY 


mabp:l h. crane 


ro])yri.(-ht. lOlT), Hy 8AMUET. FRENCH 


Ainatctirs may produce this play without payment 
of royalty. All other rii^hts reserved. 


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PRICE 25 CENTS 


New York 

SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 WEST 38th STREET 


London 

SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 


26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 












AT THK MILLINER’S 

A Comedy in One Act 




By 

iMABEL IE CRANE 




Oopyrlpht. 19l(>. by SAMTHb FRENCH 


Ainateiirs may produce this play without payment 
of royalty. All other rights reserveil. 


NEW YORK 

'SAMUEL FREMCH 


PUHLISHER 

23-30 WEST 38TH STREET 


LONDc^N 

SAMUEL FRENCH. Ltd. 

2() SOUTHA.Min’ON STREET 

STRAND 





AT THE MILLINER’S. 



CHARACTERS. 

jMrs. O’Rourke. .Plump, laced, bleached hair, in 

trailing black robes 
Cicely. . .Social investigator — zvell-cut, tailor dress, 

hair severely done 
Jinny.. ‘"buttons”—Short dress, blqck apron 

Mrs. Vanderlip.Cicely’s mother—elaborately 

dressed for street 

Forbes . Her maid—Sober costume for street 

Katie Walsh. .Shop girl—Shabby lace zvaist, badly 
hanging skirt, high heels, very fancy coiffure 
Flossie Ja'Ssen ... .Dressed similarly, zvith slight 

variation, cheap jezvelry 
A Customer. .. .Dressed in extreme, rather loud, 

fashion—may have pet dog 

\ 

SYNOPSIS. 

Miss Cicely Vanderlip, of the wealthy Vanderlip 
family, having had a misunderstanding with her 
fiance, determines to give her life to charity work, 
and undertakes to study conditions among working 
girls in the millinery shop of Madame O’Rourke. 

Her trials with customers and with her hot tempered, 
but warm hearted employer; her experience with 
other girls employed in the shop, are all most 
illuminating. In the end, however, she is made com¬ 
pletely happy by, first having sold a hat to her un¬ 
suspecting mother, and secondly, having heard cer¬ 
tain facts in the shop which enable her, without loss 
of pride, to renew her engagement. ^ 

OCJ 18 19^“° 

TMP92-00896 





AT THE MILLINER’S 


Scene : — Milliner shop from inside. Large window 
at left hack. Door at right back. Door at left 
side back. Small section railed off (Curtains 
above) at extreme right front. In enclosure 
are seats, bandboxes and clutter of millinery, a 
sezving-stand and a shelf and mirror at right 
side. Long mirror at left center facing front. 
Settee at left front. Bandboxes piled about; 
also stands holding hats. Telephone at extreme 
right corner. 

(Jinny discovered alone, serreptitiously trying on 
hats before long mirror. She poses, dances, 
etc. Mme. O’Rourke opens (left) door and 
zvatches her for a moment through a crack, then 
opens it wide and descends upon Jinny in a 
rage .) 

Mrs. O’Rourke. (Enters speaking) Jinny Mc¬ 
Govern !!! How many times have I told you to let 
them hats alone !!! (Jerks hat out of Jinny’s hand) 
Gimme that hat!! Say—^you git your things an’ you 
leave this store for good. (Points to door) The 
gall of ye!!! I suppose you think you look like a 
movie queen—don’t you ? See here, young woman^— 
(Shaking finger in Jinny’s face) the next time I 
find you in one of my hats, I’m going to hand you 
over—to—the—law—do you mind ?—I’m going to— 
(Jinny puts her face in her arms. Madame sees 




4 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


that she is impressed) Aw—don’t be crying now— 
come now, Jinny—come to me— {Hugs her) aw— 
Jinny, don’t cry—there’s a darlint—come sit on the 
sofy with me. (They sit) Jinny, I am that worried*^ 
—nobody' knows. Look what I got in the mail this 
mornin’— (Shows letter) a notice. Jinny, that I got 
to pay up the mortgage on this store—right away, 
an’, if something don’t happen to help me out—that 
means bankruptcy—girl—bankruptcy !—an’ trouble 
for all of us—an’ I don’t know what I’m going to 
do—lo—no—no!! 

Jinny. Aw— Mrs. O’Rourke - 

Mrs. O’Rourke. (Betzveen her fingers, rocking 
back and forth) Madame Fleurette, you mane. 
Jinny. Yes, Madame, I mean — don’t take on so 

—Maybe you can make ’em wait an’- 

Mme. Ah, child, you don’t know. I’ve been hold¬ 
ing off my creditors until they won’t wait any longer. 
(Sighs and shakes her head) 

Jinny. But, Mrs. O’—Madame Fleurette, I mean 
—what makes you be taking on a new girl in the 
shop. It only means more wages for you to pay. 
Of course me and Katie and Flossie will wait for 

our wages as long as we kin hold out, but- 

Mme. Well, Jinny — it’s this way. I don’t want 
to hurt no one’s feelings—but you know yourself, 
that there’s nothing like a stylish saleslady to get 
rid of the goods. Someone who can put last year’s 
hat on her head and make it look like the latest thing ; 
someone who kin look kind of proud and pityin’- 
like when a customer asks for a cheap hat. Katie 
and Flossie is both fine looking girls—none finer— 
but all their money goes to their families instead of 
on their backs—like some—an’ this girl that’s coming" 
—she has the style—they say. 

. Jinny. How did you find her. 

' Mme. Through the President of the Working 
Girls’ Aid. She’s a swell, herself, you know; and 
she told me she would send a young woman, a swell 







5 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 

dresser, she said, who would take the place as cheap 
as any of {Glances at her zvafch) goodness, 

look at the time, and Flossie and Katie not here vet. 
How I do be imposed on. Get along with you, now. 
{Both rise) Go into the siortvoom—{Pushes Jinny 
tozvards left door, follozvhig herself) 'There’s all 
them shelves to finish an’- 

{Both exit. Enter immediately Cicely— foilozved 
by Forbes. They come to front, keeping close 
to each other—like conspirators. Cicely ani¬ 
mated, blit Forbes apprehensive and gloomy. 
Cicely surveys room, then remarks the ex¬ 
pression of Forbes’ face.) 

Cicely. {Laughing) Why, Forbes—how you 
look ! There’s nothing to be so gl—oo—oo—my 
about!! (Forbes shakes head) you.know, it’s only 
for one day and- 

Forbes. Yes, miss—but there’s your mother, and 
she might find out about your masquerading as a 
poor working girl and- 

Cicely. Nonsense, Forbes. You don’t under¬ 
stand. We all take turns in the Society. It’s the 
only real way of finding out the real conditions under 
which the working girl makes her bread and butter. 
You see, Forbes, just giving money isn’t real charity. 
Real charity is finding out the best way of helping 
others and then helping that way. As for mother— 
well—I want to show her. You see, she never takes 
me seriously. When I told her that I was selected, 
among the girls to find out conditions among girls 
working in stores, she nearly died laughing. She 
said I couldn’t sell a spool of thread if my life de¬ 
pended on it. 

Forbes. An’ there’s Mr. 'Dick—what would he 
think—supposin’ he heard that his future wife was 
cellin’ hats in a cheap millinery store ? 

Cicely. {With spirit) Well—if Mr. Dick Law- 






6 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


ton is such a snob as all that!!—Besides you know, 
Forbes,—we have parted irrevocably—at least I 
have- 

Forbes. Ah, Miss Cicely—don’t say it—such a 
fine young man—you bein’ jealous just because you 
saw him walking with a strange young woman— 
why- 

Cicely. Nonsense, Forbes—I am not jealous— 
not in the least—only when I asked him whom I 
saw him with—he wouldn’t tell me—he laughed at 
me-- 

Forbes. Why, Miss, he was only showing his high 
spirit—an’ you ought to like him all the better for 
it—an’—I’m sure- 

Cicely. There’s no use arguing, Forbes. Now I 
am just going to live for doing good and—hush— 
someone’s coming. Run, Forbes!! Mind you—be 
around the corner with the limousine at six sharp— 
hurry. 


{Exit Forbes. Enter Mme.) 

Mme. {Suave and mincing. Approaches Cicely 
ivith professional smile) Ah—madame wishes a 
hat? All my salesladies are- 

Cicely. No —no!! I was sent by Miss Dreme. 
President of the Aid- 

Mme. {Change of manner) Oh !— {Looking her 
up and dozvn) I understood that she was sending 
someone—well, more—dressy-like—I don’t think 
you have enough style. And then, you need more 
of a high manner—like the quality, you know—No, 
I don’t think you’ll do. 

Cicely. Maybe I could learn—couldn’t you try 
me? 

Mme. Take off your hat—goodness, how plain 
you wear your hair. Can you sew ? 

Cicely. Well—er—I thought I was to serve. 










AT THE MILLINER’S. r 

■ Mme. Well, you can’t serve all the time. To tell 
the truth, there’s not many customers lately. 

Cicely. Oh, well, I can learn—lots of girls I 
know trim their own hats! (Seeing her mistake) 
that is—I know a lot of milliners. 

Mme. Well, come this way, and take off your 
things. (Shows her, and follozus her, into trimming 
enclosure. Enter Flossie and Katie. They have 
languid, fancy zoalks and stand, with raised eye- 
brozvs, expecting a tirade from Madame. IMme. 
coming to center) Well, I must say!!! Having 
your chocolate in bed, I suppose? Of course it don’t 
matter if the shop is kept waiting. I guess 3/011 think 
you belong to the Vanderlip family. Katie Walsh 
and Flossie Jansen—you walk right out of that dure 
and don’t let me see your face again !!! (The girls 
proceed., calmly to take off their zvraps, regardless) 
You act like I kep’ a sort of fashionable seminary. 
It seems like all you girls — (Enter Jinny, carrying 
huge pile of bandboxes, zvhich she drops) Look at 
that, now! That’s right. Jinny—dropping my hats 
like }/ou always do an’- 

Jinny. (Piping up cheerfully) Where’ll I put 
’em, Mrs. !\Iadame O’Rourke, Fleurette, I mean? 

xTme. (Jerks thumb indicating enclosure) Be¬ 
hind. Girls—I’ve a plan to git rid of them old felts 
at last. You know last year I marked them down. 
This year I’m going to put green rosettes on them 
and mark them way up. 

Katie. Madame—ain’t you the wonder ? 

Flossie. (Picking up felt from floor and tzvirling 
it) Green rosettes for green people! 

(Cicely appears to them.) 

I 

• Mme. And girls—this is the new saleslady. 
Your name, my dear? 

Cicely. Er—Brown—Mary Brown. 

]\Ime. And a plain name too—I never! Well, 




8 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


you’ll have to be Lucille here, for as long as you 
stay. {She and the other girls exchange significant 
glances. Jinny has meanzvhile struggled into trim¬ 
ming enclosure carrying bandboxes, zvhich she ar¬ 
ranges) Take a look at them hats, Lucille. (Cicely 
and Jinny look at one of the hats together, Madame 
and girls gather and zvhisper) Did you e^ver, girls ? 
—the plain thing—and Miss Dreme tellin’ me she 
was a swell dresser. 

Flossie. She’ll never sell nothing for you, 
madame! 

(Flossie and Katie go behind and Cicely comes 

out to Madame.) 

Mme. Now, Miss—er—Lucille—let me explain 
about our stock. Now this hat, {Indicates hats on 
stands) I’m asking fifteen for it—it cost me two and 
a half, an’ you ought to get eight, at least for it. 
This one is twenty—don’t come lower than seven— 
you might begin with twenty-five, and with that 
feather, an’ all, some women would give thirty. 
This one is all the way from thirty to sixteen—I 
don’t want to give the shop a cheap name, you know, 
an’ if any cheap guys come in with a little old fiver, 
why, you sell ’em one of the felts—And— {They 
zvander tozvard back, murmuring) 

(Katie and Flossie have been powdering and 
primping before the mirror inside.) 

Katie. {To Flossie) An’, I ses to him—an’ I 
ses it good and plain, I ses—ses I —(Jinny gets be- 
tzveen the girls listening zvith might and main) Get 
out of here. Jinny. Madame— {Raising her voice) 
can’t Jinny get me some blue velvet out of the store¬ 
room? {Whispers) An’ he ses- 

(Madame nods assent. Exit Jinny, resentfully.) 





\T THE MILLINER’S. 


9 


Mme. (At rear zvindow) Keep the customers 
away from this light—it’s bad. (Coming front) 
This mirror is really too near the window. Remem¬ 
ber, if it’s a woman with a round face, try any 
squarish hat on her and if it’s a \voman with a—oh, 
well, I suppose you know all those things—with your 
experience. Now—let me show you— (Murmurs) 

Katie. (To Flossie) An’ he ses to me—just 
like I’m tellin’ you—he ses—ses he- 

I^.Ime. (Approaches zvith Cicely) Here, girls, 
Lucille will show you how to put on those spangles. 
Just call me, if you have to, mind. (Exit Madame) 

Cicely. (Making for seat at rear of trimming 
section) Oh, excuse me—don’t let me disturb you. 
Thanks—I- 

Katie. (V/ho, zvith Flossie has seated herself at 
zvork) Aw—cut it out. Keep your manners for 
the customers. 

Flossie. (Giggles) If any comes. We have had 
the bad luck lately. (Telephone rings, she jumps ^lp 
and anszvers it, pertly) Yes, ma’am—well, ma’am, 
your not the only one—you can’t expect your hat to 
be done right a.wa.y with all the rush of customers 
we’re having this week. Well, we’ll do the best we 
can for you, ma’am—that’s all we can do, ma’am, 
good-bye, ma’am. 

Katie. (Watching Cicely, zvho is haz’ing 
struggle putting on spangles, sticking needles iii her 
fingers, etc.) Say, friend, Lucille—you put up an 
awful bluff on O’Rourke, saying you could sew, I 
must say. Here, let me show you- 

(Jinny comes running in.) 

Jinny. Say—girls—a customer! a customer’s 

coming!! 

Flossie. Keep quiet, will you? It’s up to you, 
Lucille. 







10 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


1 


(Cicely rises, looking panicstricken.) 

Katie. Don’t lose her now. (Jinny opens door 
with great effect. Customer enters. Cicely zvith 
hand on her heart goes tozvards her, murmuring) 
Put a round hat on a square face and—Oh, {Louder) 
what can I do for, madame {Her air is hozv quite 
professional) 

Customer. {Airily) Just passing by—you know^ 
—saw that little black hat in the window. 

Cicely. This one? (Customer nods. Cicely 
gets hat) Won’t you put it on? 

Customer. Uni—I never wear black. What’s 
that little one v/ith the roses? 

Cicely. {Has to lie full length to get it. Breath¬ 
less) Do try it on. 

Customer. {Putting it on and going through all 
the poses and contortions usual, before mirror) I 
never could wear a little hat—and white, too—Blue 
is my color. 

Cicely. {Brightly) Oh—here is just the thing 
—a large—blue—hat- 

Customer. {Waves it aside, peers around, and 
points to top of pile) What do you keep in those 
boxes—up there? 

Cicely. Oh, you wouldn’t like them. They are 
little toques—for young girls. 

(Flossie and Katie give silent giggles.) 

Customer. Indeed—young girls, eh?—well, I 
must be going. I don’t particularly want a hat, any¬ 
way, I was only passing and- 

Cicely. {Agitatedly) Oh, don’t go—we have so 
many hats you haven’t seen—big hats—little hats— 
If you have a square face we- 

Customer. Not to-day. {Coldly. Exit. By this 
time girls behind are standing excitedly, and Mme. is 
listening at door — Jinny all eyes) 






AT THE MILLINER’S. 


II 


(AIme enters zvhen zvoman disappears and Cicely 
standing dejectedly at center. Mme. comes for- 
zvard .) 

Mme. What!—you let that woman get away—an’ 
her not here two minutes—and you professing to be 
a number one saleslady—and recommended as you 
was—and all of us in the fix we’re in—who, if you 
was nothing but a useless sassiety girl, you couldn’t 
do worse. See here, young lady, you git your hat 
and- 

Cicely. (Stamping foot) No, I won’t. I won’t 
go. I’ll sell a hat or die!—oh, madame, don’t send 
me away. Try me again. It means so much to me— 
(Almost tearful) 

Mme. Well, I guess you’re in a bad way, but- 

Katie. Aw —madame, try her again—I guess 
she’s clean broke! 

Mme. Well, I am that soft—you kin stay the day 
out—maybe you’ll learn something. But I’ll take the 
next customer myself, an’ you watch me. Go on 
now—to your work—sh !! here’s another. (Enter 
Forbes) Ah, good-morning—Won’t you sit down— 
Right here, please—I’ll just move this mirror where 
you can see yourself better. Now madame—do you 
wish something for the opera, or for an afternoon 
reception, or maybe one to wear in your machine for 
shopping madame- 

Forbes. (Looking around anxiously for Cicely) 

No, no, just a hat—a plain hat- 

Mme. I know just your style, madame—simple 
elegance—that’s what it is. I love to sell a hat to a 
lady with taste. I won’t show you anything but the 
best. (Tries on a very cocky little hat — absurd on 
the prim Forbes) This hat now—my, how well it 
suits you. (Forbes takes it off zvith horror) You 
don’t like it ? excuse me, ma’am—I wasn’t thinking—• 
of course real blondes, like yourself never do wear 
that color—besides it’s a little old fer you—Now this 






12 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


is one I was savin’ for the rich Mrs. Vanderlip— 
the minute you came in, I thought how it would suit 
you, an’ she’ll take anything of ours.' (Eorbes looks 
shocked) No, no, she won’t mind—don’t let that 
trouble you—an’ the price is just thirty dollars—too 
much? no,‘ma’am, your only jokin’—oh, let me see, 
{Looking at price tag) Oh, the joke is on me—ha, 
ha—only twenty-five—oh, cheap at that—with your 
regular features an’ all—it’s awful becoming to you 
-—well, I kin see that your heart is just set on it, but 
I’ve another one here—an’ all it needs is a large 
stylish bow—right here, to make it as fine as the 
other one—my—look at it on you! (Raising her 
voice) Miss Walsh—come here, please, (Katie 
eomes in) look at this hat on the lady—did you 
ever see anything so becoming! (It is an enormous, 
plumed hat of all colors) 

Forbes. But —no—no— I —er- 

Katie. My—but doesn’t she look grand !! So 
distinguished !!! I wish the other girls could see her. 

Mme. I should say so—oh, girls- 

(The girls have been watching the sale through the 
curtains above the railings. Enter Flossie, fol- 
lozved by Cicely, who is trying not to smile.) 

Flossie. (In admiration too great for words) 
Aladame!! 

Mme. Of course you’ll take it? 

(Cicely nods assent to Forbes, unseen by others.) 

Forbes. (Faintly) Yes. 

Mme. And only fifteen dollars. 

Forbes. (Looking anxious at Cicely, zvho again 
nods) Y-e-s—Do it up. 

Cicely. (Coming forzvard briskly) No, no, you 
must wear it—mustn’t she, madame ?—it would be a 
shame to put it in a box- 





AT THE MILLINER’S. 


13 


Mme. (Getting in front of her) Just as the 
lady says—I’d be that proud to have her go out of 
my store in it. (She gives it a fresh and awful 
angle, jabs a hatpin through it, takes the money) 
An’ where shall I send the other one ? 

Forbes. I’ll take it. (Mme. and Flossie wrap 
it up at left side. Katie covertly laughs at Forbes’ 
appearance and goes back to zvork. Jinny stays at 
door. Forbes hurriedly in whisper to Cicely) 
Your mother’s on her way here, Miss! 

Cicely. How provoking!!! (Goes back into 
enclosure thoughtfully) 

Mme. Now if there is any little change you’d 
like why- 

Forbes. Thanks—no—I (Exits, glancing fear¬ 
fully back zvhere she has seen Cicely disappear) 

Mme. (Going tozvards enclosure, rubbing hands) 
It’s just as easy as rolling off a log—but I can’t do 
it again I warn you. I may as well tell you that I 
can’t take chances staying so long in the reception 
room. There’s bills may come and you see—well, I 
don’t want any papers served on me—at all- 

Cicely. (Mystified) Papers? 

Katie. Yes, papers—Don’t you understand? 
Mortgage foreclosed—Smash—bang—sheriff’s sale 
—All our jobs gone !! 

Mme. An’ if I can only hold out until Spring 
trade comes in- 

Flossie. An’ that ain’t long, an’ madame always 
pays her help, no matter what happens, so you 
needn’t worry. 

Cicely. No — no —I- 

Mme. Still. I can’t afford to keep a saleslady 
who can’t get rid of my hats for me—and you’ll have 
to make good—and- 

Cicely. Listen—if I don’t sell a hat to-day. I’ll 
make it up to you. I’ll- 

Mme. Come now, child—don’t go making 
promises you can’t keep—get busy now, an’ better 








14 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


luck next time. I’ll do the best I can for you. Come, 
Jinny. {Exit Mme., follozved by Jinny, left door) 

Katie. (Sezving) You must be awful down on 
your luck, Lucille. If you wouldn’t git offended I’d 
like to give you a piece of advice. 

Cicely. Advice? Why, no—I’d consider it a 
kindness. 

Katie. Well, it’s your looks is against you. 
You’ve got no style at all— Your hair, now— 
wouldn’t she look the lady with a Lilian Russell 
bang now, Flossie? 

Flossie. Wouldn’t she though, an’ some puffs, 
an’ her eyebrows heavier ! 

Katie. An’ the shine off her nose, and— Would 
you let me fix you ? 

Cicely. Just the thing—Do hurry—a—a— 
customer might come. 

Flossie. Don’t you worry—they’re not thick in 
here. 

{Both help her take dozvn her hair and make her up 

before mirror,) 

\ 

Katie. There, now, you look more stylish al¬ 
ready. 

Flossie. A little more black, Katie. 

Cicely. You are both awfully good, girls. 

Katie. We know what it is to be out of a steady 
job, don’t we, Flossie? 

Cicely. My—don’t I look funny. {Giggles) 
Do you think anyone would know me ? 

Katie. Your own mother wouldn’t know you. 

Jinny. {Rushing in from left door) Girls— 
girls. {Goes to entrance door and opens it) 

Flossie. Well, if you ain’t brought the luck, 
Lucille—Another customer. {Peeking out) An’ 
it’s a swell! ^ 

Katie. {Whispers) Go to it now, an’my bless¬ 
ings. 

O . .. . t. . . . <c', • . 


AT THE MILLINER’S, 


15 

Mme. {Through the crack of left door) Stick 
to her now. 

\ 

{Enters Mrs. Vanderlip. She is large and opulent 
looking—carries lorgnettes and holds her head 
high. Cicely comes forzvard, looking some- 
ivliat fearful of being discovered. Mother looks 
steadily at her but doesn't knozv her.) 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Now don’t tell me what I 
want—nor try to induce me to buy a hat years too 
young for me—nor attempt to put a little purple 
bonnet on me either—nor show me anything that 
sticks up a foot in the air—something simple and— 

Cicely. Won’t you sit down ? 

Mrs. Vanderlip. {Glancing up curiously) 
Thanks— {Sits) 

Cicely. {Bringing a handsome hat) This one 
is good looking. 

Mrs. Vanderlip. {Waves it azvay) Nothing 
like that. 

Cicely. {Brings another) How about this one? 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Nothing at all like that! 

Cicely. Why, I think that- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Now don’t think. This time 
I am going to have exactly the sort of hat I want. I 
usually shop with my daughter. She is so strong 
willed, you know, and I never have the kind of 
bonnet I really like. 

Cicely. Oh— no ? 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Never. You see she is at the 
age when she thinks she knows it all. Now what I 
really want is a low crowned, flat shape, with nothing 
on it but some sort of little bow and- 

Cicely. Yes, I see—how sweet {Suspicious 
szveetness on her part. Raises her voice) Miss 
Walsh—will you please bring me one of those felts 
before you take off the rosettes ? (Katie takes gum 
out of her mouth, sticks it on mirror and brings hat, 




i6 


AT THE MILLINER’S. - 


szvaggers hack again after a good stare at customer. 
Puts it on mother) You see-—just what you wanted. 

Mrs. Vanderlip. {Turning her head" about) 
But it doesn’t look the way I thought it would- 

Cicely. (Maliciously) No—but it’s just what 
you asked for and you know you always—I mean^ 
you know you asked for a low, flat, soft- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Yes—yes—I know I did—and 
I always know my own mind—though my daughter 
thinks I don’t—I may as well take it—the price ? 

Cicely. Eorty dollars. (Madame opens the door 
a zvider crack and zvaves her hand and indicates 
tzven ty) 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Isn’t that a little- 

Cicely. Not at all—especially when you’re get¬ 
ting exactly what you wanted. Why, this rosette 
alone- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. I rather wish that my daughter 
could see it before I- 

Cicely. Well, you know, she might fancy some¬ 
thing that stuck up more—We have a lovely little 
purple bonnet that- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. No— no—send this. Forty 
Cedar Ave., please. 

Cicely. (Hinting) Just forty dollars- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Eh—well—I suppose I may as 
well pay the cash—here ! 

Cicely. Thanks. 

Mrs. Vanderlip. My dear—haven’t I seen you 
somewhere before? (Taking another look at felt 
hat) You certainly are a very clever young sales¬ 
woman. (Exit) 

(MADAME; Jinny and the girls surround Cicely de¬ 
lightedly.) 

Mme. Forty Cedar Ave!!! that’s the Vanderlip 
place!!! To think it! 

Katie. Forty dollars !! 










AT THE MILLINER’S. 


17 


Flossie. Say^ niadame, thatdl help some! . 

Mme. An’ you made her pay cashi ^ That wasThe 
best of all. * ■ . » • , • . - 

Cicely. I knew that was,.the best way. You see, 
she always changes her mind after^she gets, home. 
So I made her pay—right—up. 

Katie. -Why—do you know her ? 

"Cicely. Oh !—I’ve seen her buy hats before. 

Mme. You’re'the grandest,saleslady I ever em¬ 
ployed ! 

Cicely. {Looking conscious-stricken. Aside) I 
don’t see how I could do it. 

Katie. Lunch time, madame! . ' 

Mme. All right girls—you eat your lunches. 
Come Jinny—with me. 

{Exit Mme. and Jinny.) 

Cicely. Goodness—I never thought of lunch, and 
I didn’t bring my purse! 

Katie. (Katie and Flossie look significantly at 
each other.) Sit down—we’ve got enough for you, 
ain’t we, Flossie? 

Flossie. Sure. 

Cicely. Oh, I couldn’t think of taking your 
lunch; but wasn’t I silly not to bring my purse. 

Katie. Cut it out, Lucille—we’ve been there. 
Here, take this pickle for a starter. I told ma to 
keep it herself, but she would put it in. Here’s a 
salt herring, too. . 

Cicely. No, no, ^ r 

Flossie. Here’s some home-made cheese. Take 
some of it an’ welcome. 

Katie. That’s the fine eats. How does your 
mother make it, Flossie ? 

Flossie. My, it’s easy. You just let a little sour 
milk heat at the back of the stove, an’ then you tie it 
in an old stocking an’ hang it on the clothes-line over¬ 
night. Have some, Lucille, an’ welcome. 

Cicely. {Rising) Thanks so much, but I’m 


i8 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


really not hungry. I think I’ll just do my hair over. 
I’ll feel better and- 

Flossie. Ain’t she the funny one, Katie? Well, 
to change the subject. 

"Katie. {With viezv to changing subject) Say, 
Flossie, are you going walking with your blond 
millionaire kid, this evening? I seen you with him 
on Friday, an’ I looked over the sassiety columns 
next morning to see your name an’- 

Flossie. Don’t you listen to her, Lucille. A 
finer young man never lived. You see, my little 
brother being run over by an automobile, and 
madame not being able to give us our wages for so 
long, and my father out of a job, an’ all, and this 
young fellow was in the machine when Jimmie was 
run over and he says to Jimmie that he would pay 
all the hospital bills, an’ he asked me would I go see 
the doctor with him, and the doctor ses—Mr. Law- 
ton, he ses- 

Cicely. {Twirling round suddenly from mirror, 
zvhere she has been taking off make-up and re¬ 
arranging her hair) Lawton? you mean Dick Law- 
ton? Has he got light brown hair, and the most 
beautiful blue eyes in the whole world? 

Flossie. You sound kind of stuck on him—do 
you know him ? 

Cicely. And was it you who were walking with 
him Friday afternoon at six-thirty? 

Flossie. What do you know about that. {Drazv- 
ing herself up) And, have you any objections ? 

Cicely. {To herself) How mean I’ve been. ^ 

{Enter Jinny.) 

Jinny. {Runs excitedly across room to enclos¬ 
ure) Someone coming! 

Cicely. {Rather absentminded) I’ll go. 

{Enter Mrs. Vanderlip.) 





AT THE MILLINER’S. 


19 


IMrs. Vanderlip. I would like to see that young 
woman who sold me a large felt with a rosette on 
one side. I have thought of a little change- 

Cicely. {Comes out and faces her mother) 
Mother! 

Mrs. Vanderlip. (Shrieks) Cicely Vanderlip!! 

(Enter Mme.) 

Mme. What is the matter — what’s the matter? 

Cicely. (Hugs her mother) Mother — I did it! 
—I did it—I sold a hat—you thought I couldn’t— 
and listen, mother—they’ve all been so good to me— 
offered me pickles—and madame wouldn’t turn me 
off because I was broke—you must pay. off her 
mortgage—trade will be all right in the spring, you 
know—there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for all of them 
—and—and- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. Well — Cicely Vanderlip — I’d 
pay anything to keep this out of the newspapers!! 

Mme. (Her hands on her hips — very 'angry) 
Well—I like that. You offerin’ a bribe to an 
O’Rourke—Me taking hush money, indade!!! It’s 
an insult, it is. Indade it would be very good 
advertising—one of the Vanderlips sellin’ hats in my 
store. I think I’ll- 

Mrs. Vanderlip. (Nervously) Oh, dear — I 
beg your pardon—I didn’t mean to hurt your feel¬ 
ings. You see, my daughter going in for this sort 
of thing—and breaking off her engagement, and— 
why I— (Breaks dozmi and weeps) 

Mme. Oh — now—go on—I didn’t mane it— 
there,—there—ma’am, rest easy now— Of course 
I’m not above taking a little help until the spring 
trade and- 

Cicely. Mother—It’s all right about Dick. I 
can’t wait to see him. 

Mrs. Vanderlip. My dear — he’s outside in the 
We were going to lunch together. 


car. 






20 


AT THE MILLINER’S. 


Cicely. {Rushes to her mother) Lunch? 

Where’s my hat! 

CURTAIN. 

{Tableau: Madame and Katie and Flossie, em¬ 
bracing in joy, Jinny dancing a little war dance 
by herself. Cicely and her mother embrac- 
ing.) 


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